"Hongyue, are you hungry?"

Hongyue stared up before putting a dumb smile on her face.

"Hungry!"

ChunHua's smile spread even more comprehensive. She held out the bun and waved in Hongyue's face. As Hongyue tried to grab the food, Lan'er slapped the bread away hastily. Hongyue pretended to struggle for it, and Lan'er felt panicked, quickly held her sister back. Lan'er raised her head sharply and met ChunHua's eyes straight on, harshly.

"How dare you! She is your eldest sister!" Lan'er gripped Hongyue's arms tightly, blood soaked into Hongyue's clothing. Hongyue's eyes dilated watching the blood spread about on her dress. Her mind flashed, and she pretended to be tired, slumping onto Lan'er. Lan'er felt her heart drop and squeezed her.

ChunHua straightened herself up and snorted.

"She's not my sister. She's trash. We both know she won't live long anyway." ChunHua leaned in closer and mockingly sang out, "Little trash, you're not ill like everyone tells you but poisoned. You're going to die. You should thank me for telling you the truth."

"Die?" Hongyue asked, pretending to be frightened. Her hands trembled, and she hid closer to Lan'er.

"Die. Dead. Gone. Just like your pathetic mother." ChunHua laughed happily, amused by Hongyue's expression.

Lan'er snapped. She flicked her blood onto the surface of the ground.

After a short spell, the earth rumbled as if it was greatly angered. Dark vines surged up digging up the soil and sprung straight towards ChunHua. ChunHua's eyes widened, and she stumbled back.

"Are you crazy?! You would go that far for that trash?"

Hongyue peeked out and admired the flowing magic techniques. Not bad, using this sort of power drained the elements around you. She swiftly condensed a small string of air and tried to use it to slice through a stalk of a dark vine. The air faded to mist when it made contact with the dark energy of the vine. Hmm, she glanced back up at Lan'er. It seems the higher grade you are, the stronger the connection you have with your destined element. The stronger the bonds, the more valued you are with the element. She stared at the dark energy. Did Lan'er have two powers? She thought about it before firmly shaking her head, this sort of power has too many drawbacks, she liked her sirenic powers better.

ChunHua quickly chanted a spell and the earth around her feet floated up and formed a protective s.h.i.+eld in front of her. Three dark vines sped towards her and slammed her back a few feet before retreating and attacking again. ChunHua cursed internally as her s.h.i.+eld began to fall apart. She braced herself for the next impact before a wisp of black smoke appeared and surrounded her.

"Father!" ChunHua yelled hoa.r.s.ely before running towards the General.

Lan'er stiffened before dismissing her attack with a wave of her hand. Hongyue peeked over and saw the General trying to calm ChunHua down before shooting a shocked gaze at Hongyue.

How is that wretch still alive after everything?!! Suddenly his mind turned, his gaze s.h.i.+fted to suspicion.

"Hongyue, why are you out here? Shouldn't you be resting?"

Hongyue stumbled out of her sister's arms and ran over to the General.

"I was hungry."

General Wei felt his cheeks redden. He had tried to tell a good story to the Third Prince in the carriage ride home. Didn't that statement mean he was lying when he said Hongyue was well-taken care of? He looked swiftly at the Third Prince to see no expression on his face. He needed to redirect the topic something where else quickly. He quickly looked back at Hongyue and tried to smooth out her tousled locks.

"Why are you so dirty? What were you doing?", General Wei questioned gently.

"Looking for food."

The General's hand froze. His face never felt so hot before. He choked before trying to answer Hongyue in a way to belittle her.

"Silly child. Why didn't you call on the servants? You need to take care of your body, you're ill."

Hongyue squinted up frowning.

"No."

"What?"

"I'm not ill. I'm poisoned. I'm going to die."

General Wei chuckled hoa.r.s.ely. His eyes flickered toward ChunHua. Did that stupid daughter tell her?

"When did you hear this?"

"When I was looking for food."

General Wei almost fainted from anger.

Why did the topic never strayed far from food?!!